Tag: writing

90 Super Easy Tips That Will Turn Even a Novice Blogger into an Expert

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 85 Comments

It always sucks being the new guy. It always sucks to start something new, to have no idea what needs to be done.

And the truth is that, most times, the advice that is out there on the web is kind of confusing.

Which advice do you follow?

That’s why I am going to offer you some real simple tips. Ninety of them.

Super easy. Super cool. Super useful. Especially if you’re a novice, struggling with readers, with staying consistent, with everything. Continue reading “90 Super Easy Tips That Will Turn Even a Novice Blogger into an Expert” →

Do You Want to Be a Prolific Blogger? Here’s How

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 15 Comments

I did a bit of counting today: this year I wrote 318 blog posts on this blog, 234 blog posts on my main blog,  plus 373 posts on irevuo, for a total of 925 posts.

Granted, let’s say half of those are reposts, advertising, or not that long to be considered actual writing, like Quote of the Day on irevuo.

Still, I wrote over three hundred and fifty blog posts across eleven months. On average, that’s more than one blog posts per day. I also wrote and released a book on blogging, wrote a few chapters from some of my fiction projects, and a couple of short stories.

Oh, and the emails and comments. Never underestimate the amount of keys one has to punch in other to reply to thousands of e-mails and comments every week.

The stats say I’m prolific, but this doesn’t mean I spend most of my time writing posts.

Actually, I think you’d be surprised by how much time I actually spend writing. It’s just not as much as you’d think.

This is why I am writing this post. Because there are a few strategies that I employ to write as fast as possible.

Because the truth is that writing blog posts is something you can do with ease, as long as you approach the process in a certain way. Continue reading “Do You Want to Be a Prolific Blogger? Here’s How” →

Top 10 Persuasive Writing Techniques

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 19 Comments

Admit it. You write because you want to convince your readers to do something or agree with your point of view. Or maybe you want them to be inspired by your words, to apply your teachings and principles, to act on your ideas.

Don’t want to admit it? Okay. This is not an interrogation. I’ll move on then.

Persuasion is the ability to present a certain situation as being beneficial to both parties. You make someone an offer they can’t refuse. Not in a Godfather sense of the way though.

Yes, you need to work at making the other understand that a good deal is being offered.

Weird, right?

And, yes, there are techniques that can help you create a more compelling case.

Here are the ten best persuasive writing techniques.

Prepare for… WORLD DOMINATION! Continue reading “Top 10 Persuasive Writing Techniques” →

Are You a Brave Blogger?

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 8 Comments

What does it take to be a leader in your niche?

Bravery.

You need the guts to alienate the wrong people in order to resonate with the right people. You need to stick to your convictions when people tell you you’re wrong.

Blogging in order to please everyone is a recipe for failure. Your success will be determined by how much you believe in your vision. Think about it… if your audience is more qualified to write your blog than you are, why should they read your words? Continue reading “Are You a Brave Blogger?” →

What They Never Tell You About Blogging

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 191 Comments

Blogging isn’t what it used to be. It’s not exactly dead, it’s not dying, it’s just… different.

When I started blogging seven years ago, all you had to do was create a blog, share some decent content, be consistent, and you’d attract readers and comments.

And you’d be making some money too. Maybe even afford to become a full-time blogger if you managed to build a community of folks who were passionate about your content.

But now… things are different. Now, there are hundreds of thousands of blogs out there for every topic imaginable.

Stuff got complicated. We didn’t even have half of these words back when I first started blogging: webinars, landing pages, sales funnels, SEO, copywriting…

Heck, we didn’t even care much about headlines, intros, and formatting our damn blog posts properly. Just read this old post of mine on “blogging:” 3,647 likes, 508 comments, and all that as a reward for delivering some mediocre advice…

Nowadays, even with all this expert advice, even with all the e-courses and mentorships and books and tutorials, people are having a hard time.

Want to know why?

Because there are some things that no one ever tells you about blogging.

But I am going to.

So, if you want to make it in this brave new world, read on.

Continue reading “What They Never Tell You About Blogging” →

[Blogging Mindset] Take Your Time

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 11 Comments

Have you ever stumbled upon someone’s blog and after reading a few posts ended up wishing your own blog had content that good?

Have you ever read a piece that was so wonderfully written that it made you feel like an amateur?

Now for the big questions:

  • Why aren’t you writing content that good?
  • Why isn’t your content profound?
  • Why can’t you write thought-provoking content that will send your blog to the stratosphere?

Are you satisfied just to shake it a little instead? Continue reading “[Blogging Mindset] Take Your Time” →

Are You a Gutless Blogger?

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 38 Comments

Let me know if this has ever happened to you: after sitting at your desk for what seems like hours, writing and rewriting, trying to communicate an idea, it downs on you that you’re feeling a bit… lost.

You write a paragraph, only to decide that’s not what you really want to say. So then you rewrite it to something you’re reasonably happy with, but then you can’t figure out what comes next.

You sit there thinking about it for a while, becoming increasingly frustrated with yourself. Finally, you just walk away, trying to find some perspective, but when you come back, instead of gaining some clarity, it seems like your ideas are even more muddled than before.

Every writer has been there. Some call it writer’s block. Others say they’ve lost their “creative direction.”

Personally, I think they’ve become gutless. Continue reading “Are You a Gutless Blogger?” →

The 5 Must-Have Traits of Successful Bloggers

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 11 Comments

One of the questions I get asked the most is, “How do I become a successful blogger?”

First of all, we should define what success means, and I think each and every single one of us has a different definition. For me, success as a blogger means to have the community you want, to earn money as a side-effect of providing quality content to your readers, and to do all that without feeling like you’re doing one long list of chores daily.

On the other hand, having a successful blog will only be the result of massive amounts of time, effort, determination, consistency, and perseverance.

If you want to be a successful blogger, here are five qualities you must have. Continue reading “The 5 Must-Have Traits of Successful Bloggers” →

Great Blogging is a Conversation

~ Cristian Mihai ~ 16 Comments

Have you ever been on a date with someone who can’t stop talking about themselves?

You know the type. They go on and on about their plans for renovating the guest bedroom, battles with back spasms last weekend, or their latest accomplishments.

The topics are seemingly endless.

Along the way, you might pick up an interesting fact or two, but when you finally extract yourself from them, you feel annoyed (“That’s 30 minutes of my life I’ll never get back”) and maybe even angry (“The jerk never asked me about my family”).

And, yes, there is a blogging equivalent of that guy. That is, they breathlessly expound about themselves without actually addressing what’s in it for the reader.

So, how do you avoid being that guy? Continue reading “Great Blogging is a Conversation” →